A Phoenix man has been sentenced to 17 months in federal prison for his role in laundering millions of dollars from victims of online romance scams. Kingsley Ibhadore, a U.S. resident and Nigerian citizen, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in May 2024 and was sentenced on Monday, May 5.
Federal investigators say Ibhadore played a key role in a scheme that defrauded victims of nearly $3 million between 2018 and 2019. According to the U.S. Secret Service, Ibhadore used multiple aliases and fake passports to open 24 bank accounts at institutions including Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and BBVA Compass.
Using names such as Barry Bhoye, Celestin Cheick, Simone Diakite, and Celestin Emmanuel, Ibhadore deposited checks from scam victims—some as large as $100,000. He then withdrew funds or transferred the money to accounts in Turkey and Nigeria.
“This was a significant financial operation,” said Scott Windish, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service in Phoenix, during the initial investigation in 2023. Authorities believe Ibhadore was part of a broader criminal network.
Ibhadore was initially indicted in 2023 following a FOX 10 investigation into the fraudulent activities. His sentence marks a significant outcome in the ongoing effort to crack down on international romance scams and financial fraud.
